Strange call to Auto Zone

[perchplucker]

Need new plugs for outboard. Boat place 1 hour drive away. Auto parts places 20 minutes. We have 5 in town. Called Auto Zone. Bought them their before. New they would have to order them. Gave them the Champion number. Asked me "What vehicle make". Evinrude 35 hsp. outboard jet motor. Hear typing. "What was the name of vehicle?"Doh Evinrude 35 hsp. outboard jet motor. More typing. "What was the vehicle make?" WTH. Evinrude 35 hsp. outboard jet motor. More typing. "Tell me the vehicle make." Evinrude 35 hsp. outboard jet motor for a boat. "Oh it goes on a boat".Doh Where in the h--- does he think outboard motors go. "We can't get that plug and have no cross reference for it." How about the NKG number. More typing. "Can't get that 1 either. Wouldn't have bought them if they could get them. Called NAPA. Gave them the number. Plugs ordered will have them tomorrow.Thumbs Up Not going to town until Thursday. Will pick up then. During call to Auto zone had flashback to commercial ab out suto parts guy tapping on keyboard and hoping he orders right thing.Rofl

[vic n]

Never cared much for Auto Zone.....I usually prefer O'Reilly or Napa. Altho I'm about ready to quit going to O'Reilly because they are screwing people on their new "return" policy.

[G.Gordon]

O'Reily's not much better. I had already crossed every filter for my Suzuki and BMW motorcycles. I slipped one time and answered that question... what does it go on.

BMW 1150 GS, 2004... you can her him asking his partner, "We don't carry stuff for BMW motorcycles do we?"

I just need that filter.

It don't say it's for a BMW...

It works, do you have em?

Yep.

Be right there.

[south point]

just curious, what town's napa did u use? my papa works at the one here in washington. as an automotive technician, I will say that napa and american auto (federated) have the most knowledgeable employee's. at the other places, if it aint in the computer, they can't help ya.

[cook]

No offence-but most places you try to order/check on parts now are computerized-they pull up the screen and have to fill out each question...not their fault...they can keep prices down by not hiring a guy with 60 years experience that knows just what ya need.

[RHill]

Some of these companies train robots on computers anymore. We had some vandalism on a company truck Halloween. Icalled the lady at insurance co. and told her that someone had taken a ball bat to a drivers side mirror in a technicians driveway between 9:00 at nite and 7:00 the next morn. She asked what the road conditions were, how fast he was going and was he wearing a seat belt.Duh

[perchplucker]

NAPA in Sullivan, MO

[south point]

oh, I see.I think the sullivan store is an individualy owned store. around here, those stores tend to take more pride in who they hire than a store owned by "napa" itself. the washington and union napa are the same way. the Oreileys and auto zones are corprate owned stores, and they tend to hire high school kids who don't know what blinker fluid is.
my old man is one of those guys who will still get out the old books and compare specs until he finds what you are looking for. most grease monkeys around here know him for that and it makes me proud of him. most of the other guys at the washington napa are like that, too.

[Little Skeeter]

Information that comes out of their computer is only as good as the information the person putting into it. Meaning they usually dont know jack squat about anything and need you to tell them exactly what it is, show them a picture and do it for them. The guys at my local Auto zone are idiots I dont think they could even change their own oil.

[perchplucker]

the NAPA in Sullivan is no longer there. As I drove past it yesterday I saw a sign saying something about they had moved. When I got home from taking my mom to town I called them and they have moved to Union. When you call the local Sullivan store number it goes to Union. What the heck. I told them I didn't want the sparkplugs anymore. I wasn't going to drive an extra 20+ miles to get them. so I called another store in town and they have them.